Knitting-machine.



Patented Dec. 2, I902.

G. W. RUTH.

KNITTING MACHINE.

Application filed Apr. 20, 1900,}

4 SheetsSheef I.

(No Model.)

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No. 715,154. Patented Dec. 2, I902. G. W. RUTH.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed. Apr. 20, 1900.]

4Sheets-Sheet 2- (No Model.)

WITNESSES:

No. 7l5,l54 Patented Dec. 2, I902.

G. W. RUTH.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(ApplicM-ion filed Apr. 20, 1900.) (No Nodal.) 4 Sheets-Shoot 3.

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R. ,3 By

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 2, I902. G. W. RUTH.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Applicflion filed Apr. 20, 1900.

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 III WITNESSES: INVENTQH M ATTORNEYS V PETERS 00., PH

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE COMPANY,

SYLVANIA.

OF NORRISTOVVN, PENN- KNITTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,154, dated December 1902- Application filed April 20,1900. Serial No. 13,625. (No model.)

To aIZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. RUTH, a ci tizen of the United States, and a resident of Norristown,in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Knitting-Machine,of which the followingis a full,clear,and exact description.

This invention relates toacircular-rib-kuitting machine, and the improvements lie in i0 certain novel devices for controlling and actuating the cams of the cylinder and dial needles.

This specification is the disclosure of one form of the invention, while the claims define the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a side view of the knitting-machine with a part of the frame below the pattern-wheel broken away to disclose the ten sion. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view showing particularly the devices for actuating the cylinder and dial cams. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of one of the arms for actuating the cylinder-cam. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the other arm for actuating 0 the cylinder-cam. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the collar carried on the shaft which actuates the dial-cam. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view with parts in horizontal section, showing the means for rendering the 5 shafts shown in Figs. 1 and 2 friction-tight in their bearings. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side view of the slide,together with the pawl which drives the pattern-Wheel and the novel devices for actuating the same. Fig. 9 is a plan view of said parts. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the stationary abutment with which the dog on the pawl coacts. Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing the dog on the pawl, other parts of the pawl being indicated by dot- 5 ted lines. Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of the dog on the pawl, and Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective View of the tension device and the parts related thereto.

The base 15 (see Fig. 1) of the ,machine,

which may be mounted in any suitable manner, carries a framing 16, on which is sustained the bed 17 of the machine. This bed carries the cylinder-needles 18 and the dial-needles 19, together with the cylinder 20, carrying the cylinder-cam 20, which has a movable part 20 connected by a pin 20 with a beveled cap-piece 20. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) The bed also carries the dial'21, the cams whereof may be of any suitable construction for example, such as that shown in the Patent to Wildman, Serial No. 613,346, granted November 1,1898. The pin 20 of the cam 20 is movable to control the action of the cylinder-needle in the usual manner, (see, for example, the Patent to Wilson, No. 528,838, granted November 6, 1894,) and I provide peculiar means for efiecting this movement of the pin 20, by the use of which I avoid gears and obtain direct movements in all directions. An arm 22 (see Figs.

1 and 2) is arranged to swing over the cap 20 and to work therewith, as in the Wilson patent referred to. This arm is carried on the rock-shaft 23, mounted in the cylinder 20. On the shaft 23 is fastened an arm 24, which projects out from the cam in position to engage with and be thrown by the disk 25 when said disk is raised into the path of the lever 24,as shown in Fig.1. The inner or short arm of the lever 24, as best shown in Fig. 4, carries a pin 26, which fits slidably within a slot 27, formed in the hub of an arm 28. This arm 28 is mounted on a short shaft 29, which turns in the stationary part or framing of the cam 20. Now it is clear that by throwing the long arm of the lever 24 inward the shaft 23 is rocked to actuate the arm 22, and also the arm 28 is thrown outward. Then when the arm 28 is thrown inward the lever 24 is thrown outward, and the shaft 23 is also operated in a direction, however, reverse to that of its first operation. By throwing the arm 22, which is on the shaft 23, in or out the movable part 20 of the cam 2O may be controlled to produce the desired effects on the work. In this connection it will beseen that 5 the control of the movable section 20 of the cylinder cam 20 is effected Without the use of gears and by a positive connection between the two parts 24 and 28. The rotation of the cylinder-cam 20 causes the parts 24 and 28 to 100 be brought into engagement with the disk 25 when the disk is properly elevated, and by these means the parts 24 and 28 are actuated.

The movable part of the dial-cam is actuated bya shaft 30, which is connected with the cam through a link 31, the same as in the. patent above referred to. This shaft 30 is mounted to rock in the framing of the cam 20, as will be understood, and'carries at a point above the cam 20 an arm 32, which is fast to the shaft. Below the top of the cam 20 the shaft 30 carries a collar 33, which is fast thereon and has a radially-slotted extension 34, receiving in its slot a pin 35, which is carried on the inner or short arm of a lever 36, mounted fast on a shaft 37, which turns freely in the cam 20. The parts 32 and 36 therefore act in precisely the same manner as the parts 24 and 28. One part moves in as the other part moves out, and the shaft 30 is rocked thereby. The same advantageous results are attained in each case. For the purpose of rendering the shafts 23 and 29 friction-tight in the cam I provide a removable plate 38, (see Fig. 7,) which bears against the shafts and is provided on its inner face with a fibrous lining 39, frictionally engaging the shafts. This plate 38 may be held in position by any desired meansfor example, by a screw 40. The shafts 30 and 37 are provided with alike device.

The head of the machine is formed with a cam, and the revolution of the head on the bed causes the cam to drive a rocking arm or lever 41, all of which parts are of the usual construction. (For an example see the patent to Wildman, referred to hereinbefore.) The lever 41 reciprocates the usual slide 42, and this slide carries a pawl 43, which drives the pattern-wheel 44. The adjustable pins or screws on the pattern-wheel 44 actuate a swinging arm 45, which bears under the stem 46 of the disk 25, and by the movement of which arm 45 the stem 46 and its attached disk may be raised or lowered to the desired elevation, placing it in position to be engaged by either one of the arms 24, 28, 32, and 36, so as to produce the necessary effects on the web. As the action of the pawl 43 causes the revolution of the wheel 44 and the consequent action of the parts 45, 46, and 25, the wheel 44 in turning engages a dog 47 under the pawl 43, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 8, and throws said pawl up out of engagement with the pattern-wheel, as shown, during which position of the pawl 43 the reciprocation of the slide 42 will impart no movement to the pattern-wheel. The

,dog 47 is adjustably fastened in the patternwheel by a screw 47*. For the purpose of holding the pawl in this inactive position I provide the pawl with a pin 48, formed with a double beveled front end 49. This pin 48 is pressed outward (to the left in Fig. 11) by an expansive spring 50, contained in the pawl 43, and such movement is limited by a screw 51, acting with a shoulder 52 on the pin. Fastened to the slide 42, directly adjacent to the pawl 43, (to the left in Figs. 1 and 8,) is a plate 53, on which is formed a double beveled abutment 54, such abutment being engaged by the end 49 of the pin 48, so as to hold the pawl 43 elevated, as indicated in Fig. 8. The pawl 43 is provided with an extension 43, which obscures the pin 48 in Figs. 1 and 8. In connection with these devices it will be observed that the pawl 43 when en'- gaged with the pattern-wheel retains such position until it is thrown up by the dog 47, and then the pin 48, acting with the abutment 54, holds the pawl raised, the slide moving back and forth without influencing the pattern-wheel. Now for throwing the pawl 43 back to its operative position (see Fig. 1) I provide a vertical plunger 55, which is carried loosely in a box or other suitable device 56 on the frame 16 and normally lying down in the inactive position shown in Fig. 8. This plunger is arranged directly below the part 43 of the pawl 43, so that when the plunger is thrown upward it strikes this part of the pawl and throws the bill or point of the'pawl down into engagement with the pattern-wheel. The plunger 55 is actuated by a chain 57, which runs idly over a sprocket-wheel 58 and which is formed at various intervals with projections 57*, arranged to engage the plun ger 55 and in passing under the same to throw the plunger upward, thus moving the pawl 43 back to its operative position. The sprocketwheel 58 is carried fast on a shaft 59, which also carries a card-wheel 60, engaged by the web of knit goods, which passes from the needles .and driven by the movement of the same. Therefore it will be observed that the regular movement of the lever 41 continuing throughout the operation of the machine will impart a regular reciprocating movement to the slide 42, pawl 43, and abutment 54 and that the pattern-wheel 44 will be driven so as to properly control the various cams of the machine. This movement of the patternwheel will, however, be interrupted once during every revolution by the engagement of the dog 47 with the pawl 43, and then the movement of the -pattern-wheel will cease until a projection 57 of the chain-57 throws up the plunger 55 and returns the pawl to its operative position. It is by this mechanism that the movable parts of the cams of the machine are controlled.

I will now describe a tension device which I prefer to use with my machine, but which forms no part of the present invention, being made the subject of a separate application,

Serial No. 18,532, filed May 31, 1900. This mechanism comprises a foot 61, which is mounted fast on the base 15 of the machine,

it being understood that this base is the usual ring-like structure, which permits the web to pass down through it. On the foot 61 is piv- This frame is mounted on the foot to move freely and is sustained in approximately the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1 by a belt 64, (see Fig. 1,) which is driven from the drive or primary movement shaft of the machine, such being located, as will be understood, on the side opposite the side illustrated in Fig. 1. Since this shaft and its arrangement is a matter well understood in the art, I have not considered it necessary to illustrate it. The belt 64 passes around a grooved pulley 65, located outside of the frame 16 and on the side of the machine opposite that shown in Fig. 1. This pulley 65 'is fast on ashaft 66, which is mounted to turn loosely in the tension-frame. Therefore the belt 6% serves not only to rotate the shaft 66 in time with the movements of the other parts of the machine, but also to support the tension-frame and its parts in the proper position. Mounted in the side bars 62 of the tension-frame are fluted or roughened rollers 67, between which the web of knitted goods passes. These rollers 67 are geared with each other by pinions 68, fast on the respective axes of the rollers and meshing with each other, and the rollers are driven from the shaft 66 by means of gears 69 and 70, the first being fast to the shaft 66 and the second being fast to the adjacent roller 67. For the purpose of preventing back movement of the rollers 67 I provide two pawls 71, which are pivoted on the side bar 62, which is adjacent to the gear 70 and which engages with such gear. The pawls 71 are of different length, as indicated in Fig. 13, so that they mesh with different teeth of the gear 70. It will be observed that the weight of the tension device is communicated to the web and that it is this weight that draws the web from the needles. Now for regulating the force which is thus applied to the web I provide a weight 72, which is hung by a rod 73 on the end of an arm 74:, that crosses the axis of the tension-framerl. 6., the foot 61-and is fastened to the tension device near its free end, which fastening is made adjustable by the box 75, through which the arm 74: passes, and a set-screw 76, carried in the box and engaging the arm. Since the force of this weight 72 is applied to the tension-frame at the side of its pivot opposite the side carrying the rollers 67, it will be seen that the weight counteracts the weight of the tension-frame, and therefore I can regulate the force that is applied to the web. WVhen it is desired to lift up the tension device and relieve the web of the strain thereon, the attendant may throw down the long lever 77, which is mounted suitably on the framing of the machine at a point above the tension device and connected therewith by a chain 78 or the like. This tension device is regular and sure in its operation, subjecting the Web to a uniform strain and cansing it to be drawn uniformly from the needles, thus producing regular and accurate work.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A knitting-machine, provided with a pattern-wheel, the knitting-machine also having a reciprocally-driven slide, a pawl carried thereon for actuating the pattern-wheel, a device for periodically throwing the pawl out of action, a pin carried yieldingly on the pawl and working with a part stationary on the slide whereby to hold the pawl out of action, a plunger serving to throw the pawl back into action and means driven with the machine periodically to actuate the plunger.

2. A knitting-machine, liavinga recipron cally-driven pawl serving to actuate the pattern-wheel, means working with the pawl to removably hold it in inactive position, a plun ger carried on the machine adjacent to the pawl and serving to strike the same, to throw it into operative position, and means for pcriodically moving the plunger.

3. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a reciprocally-driven pawl, a pattern-wheel actuated thereby, a dog on the pattern-wheel to raise the pawl out of engagement therewith, means for removably holding the pawl in such raised position, a plunger mounted adjacent to the pawl to strike the same and move it back into engagement with the pattern-wheel, and mechanism for periodically actuating the plunger.

4. A knitting-machine, provided with apattern-wheel, a reciprocally-driven slide, a pawl thereon for actuating the pattern-wheel, a spring-pressed pin carried thereby, such pin serving to engage a relatively stationary part on the slide so as to hold the pawl in inactive position, and means for periodically striking the pawl to return it to active position.

5. A knitting-machine, having a reciprocally-driven pawl for actuating the patternwheel, a spring-pressed pin carried on the pawl to engage a relatively stationary part and hold the pawl raised, a plunger mounted adjacent to the pawl to strike the same and throw it back into lowered or operative position, and means for periodically driving the plunger.

6. A knitting-machine, having a reciprocally-driven pawl, a pattern-wheel actuated thereby, a dog on the pattern-wheel to throw the pawl up out of engagement with the pattern-wheel, means for holding the pawl in such position, a plunger for throwing the pawl back into engagement with the pattern-wheel, and means for periodically actuating the plunger.

7. A knitting-machine, having a patternwheel, means for driving the 'same,such means being capable of standing out of engagement with the pattern-whee1, a dog on the patternwheel to throw the driving means into inactive position, and a periodically acting plunger serving to strike said driving means and throw them back into engagement with the patternwheel.

8. In a knitting-machine, the combination withvthepattern-wheel ofareciprocally-driven In testimony whereof I have signed my slide, a pawl carried thereby and serving to name to this specification in the presence of 10 drive the pattern-wheel, means on the slide two subscribing witnesses. 1

for removably holding the pawl in inactive position and devices driven in time with the GEORGE RUTH machine for alternately and periodically l/Vitnessesz throwing the pawl into active and inactive po- LEILA JENKINS,

sitions. l J. HALE JENKINS. 

